Toy automobile

ABSTRACT

A toy automobile is described including a cyclically operable mechanism for continuously changing the direction of motion of the automobile. In one described embodiment, the cyclically operable mechanism includes a crank arm eccentrically mounted at one end to a rotary member and at the opposite end to one of the wheel axles. In other described embodiments, each of the axles includes an intermediate large wheel, the cyclically operable mechanism comprising a weight shiftable from one side of the automobile to the other, to tip the automobile to one side where it is driven on the large wheels and one axle wheel of each pair, to the other side where it is driven on the large wheels and the other axle wheel of the pair.

United States Patent [1 1 Ladany Dec. 16, 1975 TOY AUTOMOBILE Shaul P. Ladany, 5700 Arlington Ave., Apt. 16], Bronx, NY. 10471 [22] Filed: Apr. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.1 464,122

[76] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 H1920 dc Filippis 46/213 9/1963 Ferriott 46/213 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Benjamin J. Barish 5 7] ABSTRACT A toy automobile is described including a cyclically operable mechanism for continuously changing the direction of motion of the automobile. In one described embodiment, the cyclically operable mechanism includes a crank arm eccentrically mounted at one end to a rotary member and at the opposite end to one of the wheel axles. In other described embodiments, each of the axles includes an intermediate large wheel, the cyclically operable mechanism comprising a weight shiftable from one side of the automobile to the other, to tip the automobile to one side where it is driven on the large wheels and one axle wheel of each pair, to the other side where it is driven on the large wheels and the other axle wheel of the pair.

U.S. P at ent Dec. 16,1975 Shcct1of2 3,925,925

U.S. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet2of2 3,925,925

TOY AUTOMOBILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to toy automobiles, and is directed particularly to an arrangement for continuously changing the direction of motion of the automobile.

Most types of toy automobiles move only in a straight line and therefore require a large floor space. Other types are known, for example, those movable along tracks, those movable in a circle having a constant radius, those movable in a straight line but changing direction upon hitting an obstacle, and those which are capable of being guided by electronic or mechanical guiding devices.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a new type of toy automobile having a different form of control of its travel than the typesmentioned above. According to the present invention, the novel toy automobile includes a cyclically-operable mechanism for continuously changing the direction of motion of the automobile. As will bedescribed more particularly below, the cyclically operable mechanism can be designed so as to cause the automobile to travel in a series of continuously-changing curved or circular paths, for example to a trace a figure-8 Several embodiments of the invention are described below.

In one of the described embodiments, the cyclically operable mechanism comprises a rotary member and a crank arm pivotably mounted at one end to the rotary member eccentrically thereto, and pivotably mounted at the other end to one of the axles also eccentrically thereto. The rotary member in this described embodiment of the invention is a horizontal pulley rotated by a belt driven by one of the axles. Further, at least one of the mentioned pivotable mountings of the crank arm is adjustable to permit varying the changing of the direction of travel effected by the mechanism, which enables the user to trace many different types of continuously-changing curved paths.

According to another described embodiment of the invention, at least one, and preferably both of the wheel axles include a wheel of larger diameter than the normal wheels on that axle, which large wheel is disposed between its respective pair of wheels. The mechanism in this embodiment includes a weight cyclically shiftable from one side of the automobile to the other to cause the automobile to tip to one side and then to the other during its travel. Thus, during one period of the cycle, the large wheel and one of the respective pair of axle wheels engage the ground for driving the automobile, and during the other period of the cycle, the large wheel and the other of the respective pair of axle wheels engage the ground. Since the large wheel is of larger diameter than the other active wheel but rotates at the same angular velocity, its linear velocity will be greater than the other active wheel, thereby causing the automobile to travel in a circular path in each period. This circular path will be periodically changed as the automobile tips from one side to the other.

In'one form of the latter embodiment of the invention, the weight is carried eccentrically on a horizontal wheel carried by the automobile and rotated as it travels over the ground. In a second form of that embodiment, the weight is carried by and reciprocates on a horizontal shaft extending transversely of the automobile and rotated as the automobile travels over the ground.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to several preferred embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the main elements of a toy automobile constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1a being a sectional view along lines Ia Ia of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2a 2c illustrate the different paths that may be traced by a toy automobile constructed in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 1a;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating a second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3a being a sectional view along lines IIIa -IIIa of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a third embodiment of the invention, FIG. 4a being a sectional view along lines IVa IVa of FIG. 4; and FIG. 4b being an enlarged view, partly in section, of a portion of the mechanism in FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate the different paths traceable by a toy automobile constructed in accordance with FIGS. 3 or 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 1 AND la The toy automobile illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1a comprises a front axle 2 carrying a pair of wheels 4, 6, and a rear axle 8 carrying a pair of wheels 10, 12. The front axle 2 is pivotably mounted to a pin 13 for steering the automobile. The rear axle 8 carries the motor drive 14, which may be a conventional electric motor or spring motor. The present invention could also use an inertia-type drive, including a special flywheel or otherwise providing a large mass for storing energy during the rotation of the wheels to drive the automobile, as known in friction-type toy automobiles.

According to the present invention, the toy automobile includes a cyclically operable mechanism for continuously changing the direction of motion of the automobile.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and la, this cyclically operable mechanism comprises a rotary member in the form of a horizontal pulley 16 rotated by a belt 18 coupled to a smaller pulley 20 fixed to rear axle 8. The axis of rotation 22 of horizontal pulley 16 is laterally of the longitudinal axis 24 of the automobile.

Pulley 16 is formed with an opening 26 eccentrically of its axis 22. A pin 28 carried at one end of a crank arm 30 is insertable within opening 26 and pivotably mounts that end of the crank arm eccentrically with respect to pulley 16. The opposite end of crank arm 30 carries another pin 32 which is received within an opening formed in the front axle 2 at a point eccentrically to its pivotable mounting l3 and to the longitudinal axis 24 of the automobile.

It will thus be seen that as the toy automobile travels along the ground, being driven by motor 14 (or by an inertia-type drive as mentioned earlier), the rotation of rear axle 8 also rotates horizontal pulley 16 by virtue of pulley 20 and belt 18. This rotation of pulley 16 causes crank arm 30 to turn front axle 2 first in one direction about the pivotal axis 13, and then in the opposite direction.

For example, assuming that horizontal pulley 16 is driven in the direction of the arrow 34, it will be seen that pin 28 of crank arm 30 will trace a circular path indicated by broken lines 36, moving from starting point a through points b, c, and d, and then back to starting point a. Pin 32 pivotably mounted on front axle 2 will trace a circular segment, moving from starting point ato points b, c, (same point as a), and d.

It will be seen that in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 1a, the radius of turning varies as follows: (1) when pin 32 is at point a (the condition illustrated in FIG. 1), the radius of turning is infinity, i.e. the automobile will travel in a straight line; (2) as pin 32 moves from a'to b, the radius of turning gradually decreases, such that when pin 32' is at point b, the automobile is turning to the left and the radius of turning is minimal; (3) as pin 32 moves from bto c'(the same as point a), the radius of turning gradually increases to again be infinity at point c; (4) as pin 32 moves from cto d, the automobile turns to the right, and the radius of turning gradually decreases from infinity to the minimal value; and finally (5) as pin 32 moves from cback to a, the radius of turning again gradually increases from its minimal value to infinity at point a.

In order to provide a means for adjusting the radius of the turns, opening 26 is in the form of an elongated radial slot so that it can accomodate pin 28 of crank arm 30 is any one of a plurality of positions at different radial distances from the axis of rotation 22 of pulley 16. The adjustment could also be provided on the front axle 2 in lieu of or together with that on pulley wheel 16.

FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate the different patterns that can be traced by the automobile according to the radial distance of pin 28 from the axis of rotation of pulley 16, as well as other design parameters. The respective points a'd'of pin 32 are shown in these figures. It will be seen that the pattern of FIG. 2a is a FIG-8 pattern, that of FIG. 2b is similar to the FIG. 2a patternbut with a small loop at each end, and that of FIG. is an open pattern similar to that of FIG. 2a but with the ending point of one FIG.-8cycle being displaced transversely from its starting point so that the automobile, while making FIG.-8patterns, also progresses in the direction transversely to the axis of the FIG.- 8pattern.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 3 AND The toy automobile illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3a comprises the conventional front axle 52, carrying a pair of wheels, 54, 56, and rear axle 58 carrying a pair of wheels 60, 62. In this case, however, each axle includes a large wheel, 64, 66, of larger diameter than the axle wheels 54, 56, 60, 62, and disposed along the longitudinal axis 68 of the automobile. The drive 70, such as an electric motor or spring motor, is carried by the front axle 52.

The toy automobile of FIGS. 3 and 3a further includes a large horizontal pulley 72 rotatably mounted on a vertical axis 74 centrally of the automobile. Pulley 72 is rotated by a belt 75 driven by a smaller pulley 76 fixed to front axle 52. A weight 78 is carried by horizontal pulley 72 eccentrically of its axis 74.

It will be seen that as the toy automobile travels along the ground, the rotation of front axle 52 will alsorotate horizontal pulley 72. This causes weight 78 to cyclically move from one side of the longitudinal axis 68 of the automobile to the other side, causing the automobile to tip to one side during one-half cycle of rotation of pulley 72, and then to the other side during the otherhalf cycle of rotation.

When the weight is on the right side of the automobile longitudinal axis 68, as shown in FIG. 3, the automobile will be tipped so that large wheels 64, 66, and their respective axle wheels 56, 62, engage the ground. Since the large wheels 64, 66 travel at the same angular velocity as their respective axle wheels 56, 62 but are of larger diameter, their linear velocities will be greater, and therefore the automobile will travel in a curved, clockwise path.

During the other half-cycle of rotation of pulley 72, weight 78 will be on the opposite (left) side of longitudinal axis 68, and in such case, the automobile will be tipped leftwardly, whereby axis wheels 54, 60 will be the active ones and will engage the ground with large wheels 64, 66, thereby causing the automobile to travel in a counter-clockwise curved path.

It will thus be seen that the direction of motion of the automobile will continuously and cyclically change with the rotation of pulley 72 as its weight 78 will tip the automobile first to one side and then to the other.

It will be seen that the radius of turning in this embodiment is always constant, as distinguished from that of FIG. 1 which continuously varies. The automobile will thus turn either to the left or right (according to whether it is tipped to the left or right) with the same radius of turning.

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate different paths that can be traced by the automobile according to the design parameters. Thus, FIG. 5a illustrates two complete circular paths forming a FIG-8, whereas FIG. 5b illustrates two substantially semi-circular paths, in which case the automobile does not return to the same starting point, somewhat analogous to the path of FIG. 2c in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 4, 4a AND 4b The embodiment of FIGS. 4, 4a and 4b is similar to that of FIGS. 3 and 3a except that the weight which tips the automobile from one side to the other side during its travel, is carried by and reciprocates on a horizontal shaft extending transversely of the automobile and rotated with the travel of the automobile.

Thus, the toy automobile illustrated in FIGS. 4, 4a and 4b included the front axle 72 carrying the front wheels 74, 76, and the rear axle 78 carrying the rear walls 80, 82. In addition, it includes the two large wheels 84, 86 fixed respectively, on the front and rear axles in alignment with the longitudinal axis 88, of the automobile.

The shiftable weight in this embodiment is in the form of a rectangular body 90 formed with a central bore 92 received on a shaft 94 extending transversely of the automobile. Shaft 94 is formed on its outer face with right-hand and left-hand spirally-extending recesses 96 (see particularly FIG. 4b), and weight 92 is formed with a pair of projections 98 in its bore 92 seatable within recesses 94. The distance between the two projections 98 should be equal to the pitch between the spirally-extending recesses 96.

The outer portions 100, 102 of shaft 94 are formed of reduced diameter and without the spirally-extending recesses 96. A wheel 104, 106 is attached to each outer end of the shaft and is adapted to engage the ground during the travel of the automobile to rotate the shaft. in addition, a spring-urged pressure plate 108, 110 is provided at each outer end of shaft 94 and bears against the flat end face of the shaft at the juncture with the reduced diameter portions 100, 102.

The automobile includes a pair of further shafts 112, 114, fixed to plate 116, 118 and extending parallel to and on opposite sides of shaft 94. Shafts 112, 114 serve to guide the movement of weight 90 as it travels along shaft 94, and therefore the weight is formed with openings 120, 122 at its outer ends for receiving these shafts.

It will be seen that as the automobile travels along the ground, being tipped to one side or the other of longitudinal axis 88 depending upon the position of weight 90, the large wheels 84 and 86 will engage the ground together with one of each pair of axle wheels 74, 76, 80, 82 depending on which side the automobile is tipped. In addition, one of the shaft wheels 104, 106 will also engage the ground, depending on the side to which the automobile is tipped, and will rotate shaft 94.

Assuming that projections 98 of weight 90 are seated within the right-hand spirally-extending recess 96 of the shaft, the weight will be driven rightwardly with the rotation of the shaft. When it reaches its end of travel, it will engage the spring-urged pressure plate 110 at that end of the shaft, which will hold the weight in that position while the shaft continues to rotate, until projections 98 seat within the other spirally-extending recess 96, at which time the weight will travel in the opposite direction with the rotation of the shaft. When the weight passes the longitudinal axis 88 of the automobile, it will tip the automobile to the opposite side, thereby making the other ones of the axle wheels active with the large wheels 84, 86 for effecting a circular path of travel of the automobile, at the same time making the other shaft wheel 104 active to rotate shaft 94.

It will be seen that the paths that can be traced by the automobile in this embodiment will be substantially the same as those in the embodiment of FIG. 4, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

The invention including the cyclically operable mechanism for continuously changing direction of travel, could also be embodied in a pedalled toy automobile occupied and driven by the child himself.

While these embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be appreciated that it could take many other forms.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy automobile comprising a front axle having a pair of wheels, a rear axle having a pair of wheels, the

wheels of one of said axles being fixed thereto, a drive for rotating said one axle to propel the automobile, and cyclically operable mechanism for continuously changing the direction of motion of travel of the automobile to cause the automobile to travel in a series of continuously changing curved paths, wherein said one axle driven by the drive includes a large wheel of larger diameter than the pair of wheels on that axle and disposed between said pair of wheels, and wherein the cyclically operable mechanism includes a weight cyclically shiftable from one side of the automobile to the other, to cause the automobile to tip to one side and then to the other during its travel, whereby during one period of the cycle the large wheel and one of said pair of wheels engage the ground for driving the automobile along a circular arc in one direction, and during the other period of the cycle the large wheel and the other of said pair of wheels engage the ground for driving the automobile along a circular arc in another direction.

2. A toy automobile as defined in claim 1, wherein both said axles include a large wheel of larger diameter than, and disposed between, the pair of wheels on the respective axle.

3. A toy automobile as defined in claim 2, wherein said weight is disposed eccentrically on a horizontal wheel carried by the automobile and rotated upon travel thereof.

4. A toy automobile as defined in claim 3, wherein said horizontal wheel is a pulley rotated by a belt driven by one axle of the automobile.

5. A toy automobile as defined in claim 2, wherein said weight is carried by and reciprocates on a horizontal shaft extending transversely of the automobile and rotated upon travel thereof.

6. A toy automobile as defined in claim 5, wherein said shaft is formed on its outer face with right-hand and left-hand spirally extending recesses, and wherein said weight is formed with a bore through which the shaft passes, said bore including projections seatable in said recesses for guiding the movement of the weight back and forth on the shaft, the automobile further including a spring-urged pressure plate at each end of the shaft effective, when the projections of the weight leave one recess of the shaft at the end of the travel thereof in one direction, to press the weight in the opposite direction until the projection enters the other recess of the shaft, thereby moving the weight in the opposite direction, the shaft being rotated by a further pair of wheels engaging the ground during travel of the automobile, the weight being guided by a pair of further shafts extending parallel to and on opposite sides of the first-mentioned shaft and received within further openings in the weight. 

1. A toy automobile comprising a front axle having a pair of wheels, a rear axle having a pair of wheels, the wheels of one of said axles being fixed thereto, a drive for rotating said one axle to propel the automobile, and cyclically operable mechanism for continuously changing the direction of motion of travel of the automobile to cause the automobile to travel in a series of continuously changing curved paths, wherein said one axle driven by the drive includes a large wheel of larger diameter than the pair of wheels on that axle and disposed between said pair of wheels, and wherein the cyclically operable mechanism includes a weight cyclically shiftable from one side of the automobile to the other, to cause the automobile to tip to one side and then to the other during its travel, whereby during one period of the cycle the large wheel and one of said pair of wheels engage the ground for driving the automobile along a circular arc in one direction, and during the other period of the cycle the large wheel and the other of said pair of wheels engage the ground for driving the automobile along a circular arc in another direction.
 2. A toy automobile as defined in claim 1, wherein both said axles include a large wheel of larger diameter than, and disposed between, the pair of wheels on the respective axle.
 3. A toy automobile as defined in claim 2, wherein said weight is disposed eccentrically on a horizontal wheel carried by the automobile and rotated upon travel thereof.
 4. A toy automobile as defined in claim 3, wherein said horizontal wheel is a pulley rotated by a belt driven by one axle of the automobile.
 5. A toy automobile as defined in claim 2, wherein said weight is carried by and reciprocates on a horizontal shaft extending transversely of the automobile and rotated upon travel thereof.
 6. A toy automobile as defined in claim 5, wherein said shaft is formed on its outer face with right-hand and left-hand spirally extending recesses, and wherein said weight is formed with a bore through which the shaft passes, said bore including projections seatable in said recesses for guiding the movement of the weight back and forth on the shaft, the automobile further including a spring-urged pressure plate at each end of the shaft effective, when the projections of the weight leave one recess of the shaft at the end of the travel thereof in one direction, to press the weight in the opposite direction until the projection enters the other recess of the shaft, thereby moving the weight in the opposite direction, the shaft being rotated by a further pair of wheels engaging the ground during travel of the automobile, the weight being guided by a pair of further shafts extending parallel to and on opposite sides of the first-mentioned shaft and received within further openings in the weight. 